South African arms export

Posted on Jue, 2010-08-05 00:00

Pressure by individuals and organisations may provide the tipping point when arms exporting democracies weigh up their concerns about national interest versus human rights criteria, concludes Guy Lamb of Institute for Security Studies in the new article “South African Arms Exports: A Balancing Act”. In July IANSA member Ceasefire Campaign revealed major South African arms transfers to ‘problematic countries’. This article explains why and how such transfers can be authorised. It proposes strategic public pressure and lobbying Members of Parliament to demand greater accountability of the decision makers, and identifies amended arms control legislation as a possible starting point for campaigning in South Africa.More